Staying Active (And Zen) At Home

As we go into week 2 (?) of social isolation, I have been relying on intermittent indoor workouts and meditation to break up the day, clear my mind, and keep a positive attitude. Coincidentally, I’m currently partnering with Barre3 (over on Instagram) as a brand ambassador, which couldn’t have come at a better time , as I have been taking advantage of their online workouts. I know we all have a different relationship with health and fitness and it can become a touchy subject but today I want to focus on combating and anxiety and stagnation that can accompany long periods of time at home. There is as much a focus on physical well-being as their is mental, as those things are obviously quite interconnected. So here are some resources for staying active and balanced mentally & physically, during this very uncertain time.

Keep A Routine

Like working from home is teaching many of us right now, it’s important to keep a regular schedule. Whether you wake up an hour earlier or do it during your break, try to stick with a set time for your workout. I prefer to do it in the afternoon when I feel my morning attentiveness waning, the post-lunch snooziness coming on, and I need to change gears to something I can do on autopilot. I also like to have a dedicated space in my apartment - a little area of my bedroom that’s filled with light is my go-to.

Online Workouts

As I’ve mentioned earlier, Barre3 has had a big positive impact on my physical and mental health during the self-isolation period. My favorite thing about their workouts is that there is a focus on mindfulness. They have a ton of different collections that focus on different areas: balance, strength conditioning, self love, and the newest one, ‘Calm in the Chaos,’ very apt indeed.

I’ve seen a lot of gyms offering free online classes and livestreams right now too so check out your favorite local gym’s social media accounts because they might have something for you. And then of course, there’s YouTube - Yoga with Adriene is a great place to start. She has videos to fit pretty much any and every criteria you may have.

Meditation Apps

Right now meditation has been something I find more and more necessary to combat any kind of general stress, anxiety and restlessness. But if you’re like me, you may feel like you have very little attention to devote to this practice, especially with what’s going on right now. That’s why I like meditation apps like Headspace (free) because it makes meditation and mindfulness very accessible by explaining the process. It breaks down sessions into short 3 and 5 minute periods and slowly builds on them while also tracking your progress which I’m a big fan of.

Virtual Workout Buddy

While virtual hangouts and happy hours have become a thing, I haven’t seen many people connecting with a virtual workout buddy. Mine is my mom, who is currently working from home on the other side of the country. Since we’re checking in pretty regularly right now, it makes sense to check in on a shared workout schedule too. This promotes connectivity, making us all feel a little less distant right now, while also holding each other accountable for our health and wellbeing.

Take A Break

Probably the most important thing I want to stress in this post is to release the pressure on ourselves. There is a lot to process emotionally with the constant stream of breaking news and more time spent of social media than usual, so don’t feel bad if you think you’re not doing as much as the next person. The best thing we can do in this uncertain time is to take care of ourselves in every way, including mentally, and if that means switching off for a day then please DO THAT! It may be what your body and mind needs even more than physical exercise in that moment.